- MX-5, 1996 NA
- Epsom
Hi everyone!
I’ve a1996 MX-5 NA that I SORN over the winter, breaking it out at the beginning of April (BTW: it’s not garaged). Over the last few years, it’s misfired under load when I’ve driven it for the first time after getting it back on the road. In 2023, I renewed the plug leads which cured the misfire. Last year, same stuttering under load so I looked at the plugs – the base of No.4 was rusty, so I changed the whole lot: problem cured. This year (today), same thing and, looking at the plugs, yet again, all are ‘pristine’ except No.4 which is rusty around the base (but no water in the plug ‘hole’. So, I replaced it and that cured the misfire…
But the question is, why is the same plug going rusty. It must be getting wet somehow… The car runs like a dream all summer; the problem only surfaces when I break it out. I’m 99.9% certain the head gasket is okay, but I can’t see how that would affect it anyway…
All ideas gratefully received - Many thanks, cheers!
Chris